Original photo by Dan Himbrechts.

You might have noticed two posts about Nate Johnstone’s board sponsorship go up on the site and then disappear a few weeks back. We had confirmation from several people that Nate was going to be riding for Nitro – an exciting development and awesome for both Nate and Nitro Australia’s main man, The Bear. Then a frantic set of emails and calls that night from Nate’s Olympic team manager, Ben Wordsworth and manager, Mark Jones seemed to indicate that there was some confusion as to whether or not that was true… We pulled the article because we didn’t want to do anything that would damage Nate’s career. After much chasing, we were unable to find out exactly who Nate was riding for. Until today, we have official confirmation that Nate is now riding for Nitro (Go Bear!). Nate said of the signing, “Nitro Snowboards have an outstanding international team and such a strong reputation for filming projects and I am amped to be a part of the team and am excited about the future.” Check below for the full release.

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**OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE**

AUSTRALIAN SNOWBOARDING STAR NATE JOHNSTONE SIGNS WITH NITRO SNOWBOARDS

Australian snowboarding star and 2010 Winter Olympic Games qualified rider Nate Johnstone has signed with Nitro Snowboards.

Having qualified for next year’s Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, Johnstone, 19, is set to become one of Australia’s youngest winter Olympians when he contests the men’s halfpipe.

Johnstone’s rise to prominence has been phenomenal with the Perisher local finishing the 2008/09 season ranked number two on the World Cup standings. He collected two silver medals and another top ten result from the six events he contested, and also finished ninth in the World Snowboard Championships. His World Cup runner up achievement was made more impressive by the fact that he missed two of the season’s eight events.

In the lead up to, and following, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Johnstone will be charging at the major events of the snowboarding calendar including the Winter X Games and US Open with industry insiders predicting a big future for the Australian.

In being selected to ride for Nitro Snowboards, Johnstone joins one of the most talented teams in world snowboarding with athletes including Eero Ettala, Fillipo Kratter, Markus Keller, Cheryl Maas, Austin Smith, Bryan Fox and Jon Kooley.

Speaking of the signing from his training base in Copper Mountain, CO Johnstone said:

“I am stocked to be riding for Nitro Snowboards. It is a brand I have aspired to ride for as my career has developed and I can’t wait to charge at the Vancouver pipe on my new board.”

“Nitro Snowboards have an outstanding international team and such a strong reputation for filming projects and I am amped to be a part of the team and am excited about the future.”

Mark Bristow from Nitro Snowboards shared the young riders sentiments:

We are super pumped to have Nate Johnstone riding for Nitro Snowboards.

I know Nate has always been a fan of Nitro, so it’s going to be a great partnership.

We look forward to seeing Nate becoming an import part of the Team in Australia and Internationally.

Everyone at Nitro Snowboards wish Nate the best of luck in the up and coming winter Olympic games.

Nate Johnstone is an Olympic Winter Institute (OWI) full scholarship holder and is proudly sponsored by Rip Curl.

For sponsorship or media enquiries please contact Mark Jones + 61 (0) 421 038 442